question archive 1) Sex without consent is seriously wrong
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1) Sex without consent is seriously wrong. In Sex, Lies, and Consent, Tom Dougherty argues that though it is well understood that one person coercing another into having sex makes the sex nonconsensual, the extent to which gaining consent through deception can render sex nonconsensual is less well-understood. In particular, he argues that most are inclined to accept what he calls the 'lenient thesis'. This thesis, he argues, is false.
(a) Give an example of one person coercing another into having sex with them. Then give an example of one person persuading another to consent to sex that does not involve coercion. What do you take to be the best justification for the claim that the sex in your first example is nonconsensual? Use the second example to help make clear why the use of coercion to gain consent in the first case wrongs the person from whom consent is sought.
(b) Explain what Dougherty means by the 'lenient thesis'. Be sure to use examples as part of your explanation. Then explain why it may seem intuitively plausible that, as the lenient thesis holds, the use of deception to gain sexual consent is not as serious as a wrong as using coercion to gain consent.
(c) Dougherty argues that we should reject the lenient thesis. Instead, we should accept
deceiving someone into having sex by allowing them to form a false view about what
they take to be a 'deal breaker' is as wrong as coercing someone into having sex.
Explain his position, drawing on what you take to be the best arguments he offers in
support of it. Be sure to use examples to illustrate the crucial premises and
inferences you are drawing on as supporting Dougherty's rejection of the lenient
Thesis.
(d) Do you agree with position Dougherty argues for? Explain why. Your explanation
should specifically refer to the parts of his argument that you find convincing and
those you find less convincing. Then discuss what someone who has the opposite
position to yours might argue in order to try and convince you do change your mind.
Finally, explain why you do or do not find this argument (or arguments) convincing